Esther Chapter 1
Ester 1:4
4When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.(KJV)
180 days
Ester 1:7-8
7And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.(KJV)
What is the significance of the drinking vessels being different from one another?
8And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.(KJV)
What does this verse mean by 'the drinking was according to the law'? What law are they referring to?
Ester 1:13
13Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:(KJV)
What does this verse mean by 'which knew the times;? What 'law and judgment' is being referred to here?
Esther Chapter 2
Esther 2:5
5Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;(KJV)
Since Mordekai was a Binyamite, the reference to 'Jew' here seems to mean 'a person from the land of Judea' and NOT 'a person from the House of Judah'.
I think the modern definition of the word Jew which when associated with the Hebrew people is false. I am finding that in Scripture, the word that has been translated as 'Jew' meant either Judeans - people living in the land of Judea, or Judeans - people from the tribe of Judea. It was NOT referring to the Hebrew people or all twelve (12) tribes.
It seems that people, at that time, were known (and grouped) by the land they lived in, the language they spoke, or their tribal affiliation and not by the customs we call religion today.
Esther 2:12
12Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)(KJV)
Whose customs were these?
Esther Chapter 3
Esther 3:4
4Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.(KJV)
Since Mordekai was a Binyamite (according to Esther 2:5), the reference to 'Jew' here must mean either 'person from the land of Judea' or 'person from the House of Judah'.
Esther Chapter 4
Esther Chapter 5
Esther Chapter 6
Ester 6:4
4And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.Real bad timing.
Ester 6:10
10Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.
Since Mordekai was a Binyamite (according to Esther 2:5), the reference to 'Jew' here must mean either 'person from the land of Judea' or 'person from the House of Judah'.
Esther Chapter 7
Esther Chapter 8
Esther 8:7
7Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.(KJV)
Since Mordekai was a Binyamite (according to Esther 2:5), the reference to 'Jew' here must mean either 'person from the land of Judea' or 'person from the House of Judah'.
Esther 8:15
15And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.(KJV)
I thought royal apparel was purple? Is this where the Israelis got the blue and white for their colors?
Esther 8:17
17And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.(KJV)
How did the people become Jews?
Esther Chapter 9
Esther 9:13
'13Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.'(KJV)
Why hang someone who is already dead?
Esther 9:17-32
The days of Purim are established by Mordecai/Mordekai and Esther/Estĕr.
Esther 9:29
'29Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.'(KJV)
Since Mordekai was a Binyamite (according to Esther 2:5), the reference to 'Jew' here must mean either 'person from the land of Judea' or 'person from the House of Judah'.
Esther 9:30
'30And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,'(KJV)
What were these letters and what were these words of peace and truth?
Esther 9:31
'31To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.'(KJV)
Since Mordekai was a Binyamite (according to Esther 2:5), the reference to 'Jew' here must mean either 'person from the land of Judea' or 'person from the House of Judah'.
Esther 9:32
'32And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.'(KJV)
What book?
Esther Chapter 10
General Notes On The Book Of Esther:
Reference Links On The Book Of Esther:
- Book of Esther (WWW.WIKIPEDIA.ORG)
- THE BOOK OF ESTHER AND SONG OF SONGS (WWW.JS.EMORY.EDU)